Heat-transferring apparatus and method



jan. 29, 1924. 11,482,227

c. FIELD HEAT TRANSFERRING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed May 16'. 1921 Patented Jan. 2.9, 19,24.

lswirl-1s onosBjY HELD, oF YoNxEas, NEW Yoan. Haar-TRANSFERBING erramrros AND METHOD.

Application led May 16, 1921. Serial No. 469,799.

To all whom t concern Be it known thatfI, Cnosr FIELD a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Yonkers county of Westchester,

Generically considered I propose in my present invention to utilize one or more chambers arranged within a water contamwalls together with means for introducing a refrigerating `agent into the chamber whereby the water 1n immediate contact with the outer surfaces of said walls s solidified thereon in the form of a thin ice film, and

,then creating variations in the internal and external pressures to thereby flex the walls of the chamber and cause the ice film to flake oft' therefrom.

In one embodiment of the invention I provide a mechanical means for imparting a flexing movement to the walls of the refrigerant receiving chambers which may be utilized in conjunction with the variation of the fluid pressures to more quickly and thoroughly free the ice films from the chamber walls.

It is also' a further detail object of the invention to provide an improved means for introducing the refrigeratin agent into the flexible chambers and forex austing the same therefrom.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists in the improved combination and arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoinedv claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated several desirable practical embodiments of the invention and in which similar characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating one embodiment of' my present invention,

ing tank, each of. said-chambers having flex-4 20 ib e Figure 2 is an enlar d sectional view through ,one of the re rigerant receiving chambers showing the flexible walls thereof in their normal positions,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the chamber walls expanded. A

Figure 4 is a detail `section showing'- a.

sli htly modified form of the apparatus,

igure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the refrigerantv receiving chambers showing the means for supplying and exhausting the refrigerating agent, as employed in the apparatus illustrated in Fi re 4,

igure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustratin an alternative means for supplyinlc and ex austing the refrigerant and 4igure 7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a further modification of the apparatus.

Referring more thereo in detail to the drawings and partmularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 5 designates a tank or container -which may be of any desired form and capacity. The walls of this tank are well lined with a suitable heat insulating material and the tank at its upper end is provided with a relatively narrow horizontally disposed extension 6. Adjacent to 'the body of the tank a valve 7 is arranged in the extension 6 to open and close communication between this extension and the interior of the tank 5. This valvev is actuated by suitable time controlled mechanism conventionally represented at 8 and which operates to open and close said valve at predetermined time intervals.

Beyond the valve 7 and adjacent thereto the extension 6 is provided with a depending tube 9 the upper end of which is covered by a screen or foraminous plate 10 which permits wa-ter to freely pass into the tube 9, but obstructs the passage of solid material through said tube. The extension 6 at its outer end is provided with an outlet 11 for the solid material which is conducted to said outlet by a screw conveyor 12 mounted within the extension 6 and operated from any suitable source of power.

The water outlet tube 9 extends into a reservoir 13 which is sup-plied with water through the pipe 14, the water level in said reservoir being automatically controlled by the float valve 15. The intake pipe 16 of a pump 17 extends into the reservoir, the outlet pipe'18 of said pump extending up and through the bottom of the tank 5. This pump may be of anystandard type and is preferably provided with a s ressure balance tank 19 containing air or ot er suitable gas.

Within the tani 5 one or more refrigerant receiving chambers generally designated by the numeral 20 are arranged. Each of these chambers as shown in Figures 2 and 3 consists of a metal ring 21, while the side walls of the chamber are in the form ofthin flexible plates 22 preferably, though not necessarily, of metal which are securely attached in any suitable manner at their outer edges to the respective side faces of the rin 21. The free or unattached portions o theseplates 22 are of appreciably greater diameter than the internal diameter of the ring. The ring 21 is provided 1n its outer peripheral face with a continuous groove or channel 23 and this ring is covered on its outer and side portions by the rubber fibre or other suitable insulating materiai shown at 24 which has interlocking engagement with the walls of the oove 23.

The refrigerant receivmg chamber as above described may be circular, elliptical or any other desired form and is referably, though not necessarily, arrange ina vertical position in the tank 5 and is securely fixed in any suitable manner at itslower side to the bottom wall of the tank. As shown in Figure 1, the refrigerating agent is supplied to the series of chambers through the header 25 which has branch connections extending upwardly into the several chambers between the flexible sidewalls 22 thereof. An outlet header 26 is likewise provided with branch pipe connections communicating with the upper ends of the several chambers 20 and extending through the stulling boxes 27 in the top wall of the chamber 5.

The operation of' the abovedescribed embodiment of the invention is as follows: The tank 5 is filled with water maintained under pressure b understood that t e valve/7 is closed. This external pressure on the flexible walls 22 of the chambers 2() causes said chamber walls to assume the inwardly concaved shape shown in Figure 2. The refrigerating agent is now admitted to these chambers from the supply source through header 25. Each of the connections of the outlet header 26 to these chambers is provided with an expansion valve or other control means shown at 28 through which the refrigerating agent is returned to the source of supply by re- ,versing the direction of flow. Thus the presthe pump 17, it beingl msnm? thin coating or film of ice. AThe valve -7 is now automatically o enedthus reducing the water pressure 1n t e tank or chamber 5 which becomes less than'the pressure of the refrigerant in the chambers v20 whereupon the flexible walls 22 of these chambers are expanded outwardly from their concave shape, as in Figure 2, to the convex form shown in Figure 3. In this flexing movement of the walls 2 2, the ice film is cracked off into separate particles or flakes and being ofless specific gravity than the water floats to the surface thereof. The .timing mechanism 8 closing valve? permits the pressure to again be built up in thev tank 5 so that the 'side walls of the chamber 2U again become concave and the cycle just described is repeated. In some operations it may be found preferable to only partially colla se the flexiblewalls 22. Owing to the s ape of the tank 5, with each vopening of the valve 7 the ice and water in proximity of 'said valve flows into the extension 6. The

ice particles or flakes are carried by the screw conveyer 12 to the outlet 11, while the water drains through the screen 10 back to the reservoir 13 and is again returned to the tank 5.

From the above description it will be seen that the described apparatus is entirely automatic in its operation and by multiplying the number of chambers'20 mush or flake 'ice in any desired quantity may be rapidly produced. I have 'foundthis form of theapparatus very desirable in supplying acking ice for use in carrying out various c emical reactions. It is, however, to be understood that the apparatus may also be advantageously employed for various other purposes.

In Figure 4 of the drawin s I have illustrated a sli htly modifie 'construction wherein the ilgexible side walls of each re-- frigerant receiving' chamber are connected at their upper ends to a reciprocable rod 29 extending through .one end wall of the water tank and which may be actuated by a suitable operating means 30 of any preferred type. In this construction, the refrigerant is admitted between the flexible side walls 22-l through the inlet pipe 31.

These flexible walls are tightly joined at their edges and are -xed at their lower ends to the bottom wall of the tank. The outlet pipe 32 for the refrigerating agent communicates with the space between the walls 22 at the lower ends thereof, the inlet pipe 31 which is of relatively small diameter extending through this outlet pipe which re turns the refrigerant to the source of supply. In this construction the refrigerant receiving chambers are preferably circular in form, and the side walls of the chambers are flexed by variations in the internal and external pressures in the manner above demaaar? scribed. Therefore, it will be understood that if desired the reciprocating rod 29 connected to the up r ends of the walls 22 need not be employe However, in order toexpedite the separation of the ice lm from the vsurface of the walls 22', I may use this means for impartin a bodily flexin movement to the cham ers which res t in a eeling action causing the ice to separate rom the flexible walls in somewhat larger particles.

In Figure 6 of the drawings I have illustrated another means for supplying and exhausting the refrigerant wherein the inlet pipe 31 and the outlet pipe 32 are arranged in parallel relation alongside of each other, the inlet pipe extending upwardly above the outlet pipe between the exble side walls of the refrigerant receiving chamber. The lower ends of these pipes are closed and respectivel communicate with the-refrigerant supply pipe a0 and the return pipe 41.

Referring now to Figure 7 of the drawings wherein l have illustrated another alternative embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant supply pipe 33 extends downwardly into the water containing tank and has its lower end upwardly turned as at 3d. To this end of the supply pipe there is suitably secured a flexible tube 35, the free end of which is provided with a suitable closure 36. A coil spring 37 may be enclosed within this tube or may externally surround the same. This spring acts to normally maintain the` exible tube in the coiled form shown in full lines in Figure 7, though if desired the tube may be of such inherent elasticit that it will normally maintain this coi ed condition. Upon the admission of the brine, freezing gas or other refrigerant to the tube 35, a coating or film of ice will form upon the exterior surface of said tube. By then increasing the pressure of the refrigerating agent within the tube, said tube is uncoiled or moved towards a straight line position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. In the flexing of the tube walls incident to this uncoiling movement, the ice film is cracked or broken and thereby caused to separate from the surfaces of the tube so that itwill float to the surface of the water contained inthe tank from which it may be removed by means of a suitable conveyor.

From the foregoing description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of the several described embodiments of the invention will be clearly understood. In each of the constructions referred to the apparatus is relatively simple and provides an eilicient and serviceable means for producing mush or flake ice in large quantities. While I have specifically referred to several constructions which believe best exemplify the principle involved,

it will, nevertheless, be understood that the apparatus might also be constructed in various other alternative forms and l 'accordingly reserve the'privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes in the form, proportion and relative arrangement of the several parts as ma be fairl embodied Within the spirit an scope o the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. lin a heat transferring a paratus, a fluid receiving tank, means within said tank to receive a heat conducting fluid and having a flexible heat transferring Wall upon the surface of which the fluid in the tank in immediate contact with said wall is solidified by heat transference, and means for creating pressure differences of the Huids on opposite sides of said wall to thereby flex the wall and cause a separation of the solid deposit therefrom.

2in a heat transferring apparatusz a Huid receiving tank, a refrigerant receiving chamber within said tank havin exible side walls, means for continuousy circulating the refrigerant through said chamber whereby the fluid in the tank in innuediate contact with the outer surfaces of said chamber walls is solidified by heat transference and means for creating pressure di'erences of the fluid in the tank and a refrigerating agent within saidlchamber to thereby flex the walls of the chamber and cause a separation of the solidified deposit therefrom.

3. ln a heat transferring apparatus, a fluid receiving tank, means for supplying a fluid to be treated under pressure to said tank, a plurality of chambers arranged within said tank, each chamber having flexible side walls, means for continuously circulating a heat conducting medium through said chambers whereby the Huid in immediate contact with the surfaces of.'

the chamber walls is solidified by heat transference and means for creatin pressure differences of the heat con ucting medium within said chambers and of the fluid within the tank to thereby flex the walls of said chambers and cause a separation of the solidified deposit therefrom.

4. ln a heat transferring apparatus, a fluid receiving tank having an outlet means for supplying the 'luid to be treated under pressure to said tank, a itime controlled valve for opening and closing the outlet at predetermined intervals to thereby regulate the fluid pressure within the tank, a plurality of chambers within said tank each having flexible side Walls, means for continuously circulating a heat conducting medium through said chambers to solidify the fluid in the tank in immediate contact with the chamber walls by heat transference, the opening of said valve creating a diference in ressure between the iuid in the tank anti3 the heat conducting medium in said chambers to thereby fiez; the Walls of said chambers and cause the separation oi' the solidified deposit therefrom.

5. in a heat transferring apparatus, a, Huid-receiving tank, a chamber arranged within said tank and having a fiexibie heatl transferring waii, means for suppiying a heat transferring medium under pressure to said chamber, means for suppiying the Huid to be treated under pressure to said tank,

and means for varying the pressure of the fiuid in the tank with respect to the pressure of the heat transferring medium in said chamber to thereby cause the fiexure of said chamber wall and effect a separa-tion of the soiidiiied deposit therefrom 6. The method of recovering solids from fiuids by heat transference which consists in contactingr a heat conducting medium with one side of a {'exibie heat transferring Wall and contacting the Huid to be treated against the op-posite side o said wall where- Meana?) by the Huid is solidified in the ferm et a @im upon the surface ot' the waii by heat transference, and creating differences in pressure of the Huid being treated and of the heat conducting Huid to thereby cause a iexure o' said wall and eect a separation of the Bim of solid therefrom.

in a crystallizing 'receptaeie, seaced walls made of sheets of' iexibie an impermeabie material for receiving the erystais, means for maintainingI the Huid being treated under pressure in Contact Witn me outer surfaces of said waits te normaidy @en said waiis 1n one direction and means ter supplying a heat transferring medium under pressure to the space between said Waiis for CROSBY FIELD. 

